The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

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Delta Grassroots Caucus Events

Credit Michael Hibblen/ KUAR News, Arkansas Public Radio; Former President Bill Clinton speaking to the Delta Grassroots Caucus on May 2, 2013, at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, Little Rock

OPENING SESSION–HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The opening session is Tuesday evening, November 1, 2011 from 4:50 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Room B-339 Rayburn House of Representatives building. There will be food and drinks, presentations and question and answer from Members of Congress as well as DRA officials and leaders based in the region.

4:45 to 5 p.m., WELCOME

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.–OPENING SPEAKERS

PLEASE NOTE: WE NEED TO START EARLIER THIS YEAR AT 4:45 P.M. BECAUSE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS SCHEDULED VOTES AT 6:30 P.M., SO THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE TO SPEAK MUCH EARLIER THAN USUAL. THERE IS NO RECEPTION, BUT WE WILL HAVE FOOD AND DRINKS YOU CAN HAVE DURING THE PROGRAM.

CAPITOL HILL SESSION at Historic Lutheran Church: Wednesday afternoon, November 2, 2011, historic sanctuary of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation near the Senate and House buildings, right behind the US Supreme Court, 212 East Capital, approximately 1:15 p.m. to about 4 p.m. We will have additional Members of Congress and grassroots leaders.

Deborah Martin, The Martin Group, Ridgeland, Mississippi; nutrition and small business minority owners

FINAL SESSION, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., –SERIES OF SMALL MEETINGS AT KEY EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES: Rather than set up another group meeting on the third day when everybody is tired and some people have already gone home, we plan to split up into meetings with small groups or even individuals at additional Congressional and executive branch offices, and it is strictly flexible and optional as to how our partners want to utilize that time.

ALTERNATIVE MEETINGS–PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OR TWO AND NOTIFY US AT LEEPOWELL@DELTA.COMCASTBIZ.NET OR SET UP ANOTHER MEETING OF YOUR CHOOSING:

Meeting with Federal Highways Administrator Victor Mendez at US Department of Transportation, Thursday morning, Nov. 3–9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.–A few meetings that are set up can be joined by additional participants, just by emailing Lee Powell at leepowell@delta.comcastbiz.net, or for the US Dept. of Transportation meeting on putting people to work on roads, bridges, rails and other transportation infrastructure, the Delta Development Highway System plan, Interstate 69 and other transportation issues: contact Johnnie Bolin, executive director of the Arkansas Good Roads Transportation Council at bolin25@windstream.net

Meeting with USDA Assistant Secretary Pearlie Reed, 11 a.m. Thursday morning, USDA Whitten building on the mall, on diversity, small farmers, and USDA’s role in rural economic development in the Delta.

Meeting at US Senator Mark Pryor’s office, 255 Senate Dirksen building, Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.–Senator Pryor is an influential Senator who is known for being able to work with both parties. This will focus on job creation, rural development, nutrition and other USDA-related issues, support for the Delta Regional Authority.

Meeting at US Representative Mike Ross’ office, 2436 Rayburn House building, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to noon–Congressman Ross is the Democratic Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Mississippi River Delta Congressional Caucus, the Congressional counterpart to our Grassroots Caucus. The Congressional Caucus can send communications to all Members of Congress in the eight-state Delta region. Kenny Gober of the McGehee Housing Authority will be one of the key leaders for this session.

Meeting at US Representative Rick Crawford’s office, 1408 Longworth House building, Nov. 3, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.– Congressman Crawford is the Republican Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Mississippi River Delta Congressional Caucus, the Congressional counterpart to our Grassroots Caucus. Rep. Crawford has limited space in his office so this session will have to be limited to seven or eight grassroots leaders. Rev. Jerome Turner of the BGACDC nonprofit agency in Phillips County, Arkansas will be one of the key leaders for this session.

11 a.m. to noon, Nov. 3–Meeting at USDA Rural Utilities Service, Room 5141, USDA South building at 1400 Independence Avenue, Wing 1 entrance, 5th floor,–We expect to set up a meeting for a small number of people at USDA Rural Utilities Service on broadband expansion for the rural Delta, telemedicine, and some biofuels issues. Stephen Copley of the Arkansas Friendship Coalition, who works on a range of issues for Hispanics and other economically distressed people in the Delta, will be one of the key leaders for this session.

Thursday morning, Nov. 3 meeting at US Dept. of Education on literacy, access to higher education, Pell Grants, developing a well-educated workforce, time to be determined, with President Larry Peterson of Shawnee Community College in southern Illinois being one of the key leaders for this session. We have an impressive array of universities and colleges taking part at this conference, including Southern Illinois University, Shawnee Community College, Southeast Missouri State University, Murray State University in western Kentucky, Arkansas State University, the University of Memphis, Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Delta State University in Mississippi, the University of West Alabama, Grambling State University, and Louisiana State University. We do not know how many universities and colleges will be represented at this meeting, but we greatly appreciate their coming to Washington for this conference.

Appreciation for Sponsors for the Delta Grassroots Caucus

November 1-3, Washington, DC

Lead Sponsor

Nucor Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel of Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas

Major Co-Sponsors

McGehee Industrial Foundation

National Housing Assistance Council, Washington, DC

Mississippi County Economic Opportunity Commission

Sponsors

Southeast Missouri State University

Mr. and Mrs. J. William McFarland, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

AvanTech Services, Clifton Avant, President & CEO

Desha County Judge Mark McElroy

Grambling State University, Louisiana

Southern Bancorp Bank

Helena National Bank

Lincoln County Industrial Corp., Star City

First State Bank & Trust, Caruthersville, Missouri

Mid-South Delta LISC

Southeast Missouri Delta Caucus Partners

Phillips County, Arkansas Delta Caucus Partners

East Central Arkansas Delta Caucus Partners

Delta Grassroots Caucus Partners

Last but not least, we would like to thank the hundreds of people and organizations who made smaller contributions in the amounts of $100, $50 or $25 for registration fees, annual membership dues or other modest contributions. For a grassroots regional coalition, we need to have a diversified, broad base of financial support from a large number of smaller contributions. The large number of these contributions really adds up to a substantial amount of funding.